Charles Proctor, a Daily Bruin staffer for three years and
current news editor, has been named next year’s editor in
chief of the paper by the Associated Students of UCLA Communication
Board after receiving a unanimous vote of support from the current
Bruin staff on Friday.
Although Proctor, a third-year English student, ran uncontested
for the position, current editor in chief Tyson Evans said that the
staff is fully in support of Proctor.
“Charles is a superb candidate, and I am really excited at
him taking over the paper,” said Evans.
Proctor said he greatly appreciates the opportunity and support
from the staff, and he hopes to “maintain the paper at the
level of quality it is at now.”
Proctor said his goals for the upcoming year include increasing
online readership and developing more regular contact with members
of student government and other student groups.
He went on to say that he will continue working to increase
readership and will do his best to prevent print circulation from
decreasing.
Proctor joined the Daily Bruin his first year at UCLA with
aspirations of a future in journalism. After spending one year as a
Bruin news writer and another as an assistant news editor, Proctor
left to study abroad in South Africa in fall 2004.
Upon his return in the winter, he assumed the position of news
editor after Menaka Fernando stepped down.
Evans said the Daily Bruin has gone through many changes, and
now it is at a crucial point which will present Proctor with an
exciting new challenge: the growth and expansion of readership.
Evans said that for the four years that he has been with the
Daily Bruin, there have always been at least two candidates for the
editor in chief position, but that it is not unprecedented that a
candidate has run uncontested.
Arvli Ward, director of Student Media ““ which includes
UCLA Radio, Bruin News 29 and the seven news magazines ““ said
he is confident in Proctor’s ability to lead the paper in a
time of decreasing advertising revenues and raised dependence on
the Internet as a publication medium.
Ward said online readership of the Bruin recently surpassed
print circulation and, combined with the current economy and
slumping advertising, creates a “tough publishing
environment.”
However, he said, the board was impressed with Proctor as a
candidate and is hopeful for next year.
“He seemed to have the right temperament to meet those
challenges,” Ward said.